A global economic downturn coupled with rising interest rates in Australia creates a more difficult operating climate but can also throw up opportunities. Despite current consumer confidence concerns, the underlying strength of retail property is drawing investors to the asset class. A plan to make people pay out of pocket, rather than from their super fund, for advice about switching funds will do more harm than good, Hub24 and Insignia say. The sharemarket limped to a fourth month of gains despite a late slide on Friday afternoon. ASX closes up 1.5pc, RBA lifts QE by $100b from April at $5b a week, 3-year yield target kept at 0.1pc, 10-year yield falls from 1.17pc to 1.12pc; $A falls. China\u2019s central bank has allayed fears of tighter policy by reining in overnight rates after they spiked to a five-year high.<\/p>\n
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The funding package positions Defence a big winner in the May 12 budget, but Australia still falls well short of US demands to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on the military. The longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed, the more the economic and political pressure on the US and its allies mounts, strengthening Iran\u2019s negotiating hand. Markets have persuaded themselves things are going to work out, but can Jim Chalmers\u2019 budget avoid the fallout? Moderating growth is vital, but doing so takes harder work than the government has attempted. The Liberal and National leaders use global uncertainty to peddle anger.<\/p>\n
The percentage of IG client accounts with positions in this market that are currently long or short. AI chatbots make it possible for people who can\u2019t code to build apps, sites and tools. But how much of the investment actually stays in the country? Alongside the conflict over the strait of Hormuz, the US and Israel\u2019s war with Iran is also being fought on a new front. If Anthropic\u2019s new AI tool falls into the hands of bad actors, they could hack pretty much every major software system in the world.<\/p>\n
Iron ore miners rise despite the commodity spot market pull back. Crown director Poynton separates from Packer\u2019s Consolidated Press. Robert writes on companies and markets. Improve your trading skills by working through interactive courses on the IG Academy app.<\/p>\n
Shareholders delivered a substantial protest vote against the oil and gas producer\u2019s executive pay report at the AGM, pointing to continuing discontent. Volatility spiked over the week as retail traders took on Wall Street. The US dollar was supposed to decline by 5-10 per cent this year but the greenback has instead clawed its way to a five-week high. Amcor gained solidly after a surge in first-half profit, Virgin Money spiked 15pc after issuing margin guidance and Pinnacle reported a 120pc profit jump.<\/p>\n
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For every $3.1 million invested in data centre infrastructure, according to the industry\u2019s own figures, Australia gets one permanent data centre job. Sign up to get the latest on your favourite topics from the ABC We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Viva Energy is in a trading halt after a fire at its Geelong oil refinery.<\/p>\n